Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Maybe we should start going in pairs to the city to scope things out. Find some clues,” I suggested. We couldn’t hide forever, and I didn’t want to subject Emery to that any longer. She had been a good sport about it so far.
“Yeah, let’s talk to the others about that,” Benjamin agreed.
We started to turn to return to the cabin, but the wood of a nearby tree splintered as a bullet struck it. I dropped to the ground just as another bullet sailed over my head.
“Get down!” I shouted at Benjamin as I heard more shots fired. All I could think about as a ringing sound filled my ears was taking care of the threat before he managed to find the cabin and get to Emery. I had to take care of this now.
Benjamin dove behind a shrub, covering his head with his hands.
I hurried behind a tree, pressing my back against it as my heartbeat pounded between my ears. Whoever was out there must’ve been looking for Emery. Why else would they be so far out here? I couldn’t let them escape and report back to whoever had sent them.
I counted the shots and listened closely, figuring it was just a common 9mm handgun. When twelve shots were fired our way, I crept out from behind the tree and moved toward the direction of the shooter. He had to be reloading at this point.
Eventually, I saw a figure in all black clothing and a black mask hiding behind a tree, hastily changing magazines. I didn’t hesitate. I ran right at him before he could fully reload, tackling him to the ground and knocking the breath right out of him. With gritted teeth, I wrestled the gun out of his grip and tossed it to the side where he couldn’t reach it.
“Ben!” I shouted. I didn’t want to kill whoever the attacker was because I needed all of the information that he could give me.
Benjamin rushed over to me.
“Nice,” he commented, helping me flip the attacker over onto his stomach. He took a zip tie out of his jacket pocket and tied the attacker’s wrists up before ripping off his mask. “Peek a boo, asshole.”
The middle-aged man growled and spat at us, trying to writhe his way out from under me.
Benjamin struck the man in the face, stunning him. He looked over at me.
“I guess the cabin isn’t as good of a hiding spot as we thought,” he muttered.
I shook my head and felt around in the man’s pockets until I found his phone. I tossed it over to Benjamin.
“Maybe he has some contacts or text messages we can look at. There has to be clues somewhere,” I told him. Nowhere felt safe enough now.
“Good luck,” the man scoffed at us.
“Whatever we don’t find on your phone, you’ll tell us yourself,” Benjamin said in a threatening voice as he leaned close to the attacker.
“Let’s get him up,” I told Benjamin before moving off the man. I grabbed one of his arms, while Benjamin grabbed the other one. We pulled the man to his feet before glancing at each other. “Well, put the mask back on. I don’t want him knowing where we’re at.”
Benjamin yanked on the man’s mask backward where he couldn’t see anything.
“Alright, let’s go,” he said, leading the way back to the cabin.
I frowned to myself as I followed, dragging the man along. Our little slice of paradise had been compromised. We either held our ground or had to move. Both options weren’t as safe as I wanted them to be, and the last thing I wanted to do was put Emery in danger.
It soon became clear to me why I had my rule of not getting close to clients in place. Feelings complicated things. I had a lot more to lose now that I cared about Emery, and my fear of that might get us all killed.
16
EMERY
“What the hell!”
I ducked behind the couch as Benjamin and Andrew dragged a masked man into the cabin, grunting from exertion. I looked over at Akio and Rhett, who rushed over to help grab the man. Fear crept up my spine and sides in a cold shiver. I knew this wasn’t good news.
“Put him in the bedroom,” Benjamin said as he yanked the masked man toward one of the bedrooms. The others followed and tied the man up to a chair in one of the bedrooms, keeping the man’s mask on.
I slowly approached the doorway, lingering there as I watched the four of them stare at the man. I hadn’t ever seen them look so wary before, which made my stomach churn in nervousness. Things had been fine so far. Now, I had a feeling they were going to have to change.
“Who is he?” I asked.
“We don’t know. He was shooting at us in the woods,” Andrew said before his eyes locked with mine. A frown crossed his face as he drew in a deep breath with a subtle shake to it. “I’m guessing someone sent him out there to find you.”